Powerful storm begins lashing Northeast a day after sweeping through nation's midsection

A tree service employee trims the broken branches of this tree in McNeill, Miss., Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. More than 25 people were injured and at least 70 homes were damaged in Mississippi by the severe storms that pushed across the South on Christmas Day, authorities said Wednesday. Hundreds of trees were damaged or destroyed, many with broken branches overhanging homes or property. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

Ian Rone, 12, surprises Alena Byrn. 16, with a face full of flakes while snowball fighting at the Overton Shell, Wednesday Dec. 26, 2012 in Memphis, Tenn. Memphis managed to avoid the heavy snow that blanketed much of Arkansas, but Overton park was bustling with kids taking advantage of an almost white Christmas. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Jim Weber) (The Associated Press)

CONCORD, N.H. – A powerful winter storm is expected to drop one to two feet of snow on parts of the Northeast just a day after it swept through the nation's middle, dumping a record snowfall in Arkansas and ruining holiday travel plans.

The storm, which was blamed for six deaths, hit the Northeast Wednesday night. Within hours, snowfall ranged from a few inches to a dozen in some locations.

The National Weather Service says the Northeast's heaviest accumulations will be in northern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and inland sections of several New England states before the storm ends Friday morning and heads to Canada.

On Wednesday, the storm caused hundreds of flights to be canceled or delayed and scores of motorists got stuck on icy roads. Blizzard warnings were issued in some areas.